THE RABBIT NUISANCE IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2197, 7 August 1886, Page 2

THE RABBIT NUISANCE IN WAIKATO.

«. A noon deal has been written upon this .subject from different points of view. Some time ago we deemed it our duty to draw attention tv the existence of the peat and the need fen- stringent measures to suppress it as qcickly as possible, or before it had attained to daugmoiiMly largo proportion*. At the same tune we ventured to express the opinion that the rabbit would never become in Waikato the pe->t and curse it had grown to be in Australia, and some parts of this colony. Since then the Rabbit Inspector, Mr Oldham, and the expert sent up by the Government, Mr Hargrave.s, have continued an active crusade against the furry nuisance, to the satisfaction of some and the disgust of others. Our Te Awamutu correspondent has on several occasions represented the case of those who object to the operation of the law, on the ground that no such a thing as a "rabbit pest " really exists. In last is-ue he referred to the subject at considerable length, and on the face of his letter it would seem that the settlers are being subjected to much injustice. Exception has, however, btiea taken to the accuracy of some of our own correspondent's statement-*, and we have been asked to gi\e publicity to the following : —The staff employed nt the public expense consists of one rabbit inspector, whw is also sheep inspector for the distiict, one rabbit agent, whose duty it is to report on the rabbits in the Waikato and King Country, and one rabbit killnr, not two, as stated by our correspondent. ? A> to the numerical strength of the rabbits in the neighbourhood of Alexandra, we are informed that Sergeant Steele and party shot 100 in one day, near the Alexandra Road, that Mr Scott and party bagged a like number in the name time on his farm, and that Mr John Sanders, with his pack, has killed 40 rabbits in one day also. It i> true that Mr Ligertwood, a settler at Paterangi, \u\a wiitten to tliu county council asking that body to interfere and protest against the action of the rabbit inspector, but, on the othev hand, Mr Oldham has received the following letters, which carry their own commentary .— Queen wood, near Alexandra, July 20th, 1886. Mr Oldhain.

I)k.\u Sib, —ln accordance with my promise to you, 1 have authorised Mr G. Harper to lay poison for rabbits on my beh.vlf, and he is at present working round the frontier road, as agreed on, but lie inform.*, me that he has not been instructed by all the landowners in th.it part to l.iy it on their land, and I understand that several are taking no steps to hiy poison. 1 think it would only be fair to insist on all taking part in the movement at the same time, and I must ask you to compel them to do so, in justice to those of us who have been actively engaged in killing rabbits for some years. lam not writing of any particular individual, but of all landowners who are taking *io steps whatever to contend against the nuisance, and sincerely hope and trust you will compel them either to lay poison at once, or to take other to prevent their places from becoming breeding placos for the district. lam informed that you wibh to hear any complaints on tni-> subject, and therefore you may use this letter from one chiefly concerned, to .strengthen your hands if necessary. —l am, dear sir, yours faithfully. J. C. GiUEItbON. Alexandra, August 2nd, 1886.

Dear Sik. — W« are short of phosphorous here. Keighley went to Mr Aubin today, and ho had none, and said that he was not goiiiß to bo bothered with it any more. Now that I have proved its efficacy I do not want to leave a thing half done. Now is the best time, in my opinion, to l.iy it, befoie the rabbits have their young, and 1 think it would be wise for you to try and arrange with somebody else, if Mr Aubin refuses, to keep a mipply, as ym cm hardly expect us to go to Hamilton for it. E\erybody ia having a try now, and it would spoil the whole work if the supply of phosphorous fails.— l remain, yoiu\i obediently, Chaklks Tisdai.i.. Mr Oldham, Hamilton. It will be seen from the above that there are at least two sides to the question.

Thkrk ahk srrcH Chvph ix Amkkk'V,— " Who's that you jiwt nodded to ?" " Fellow I know." "What's his name?" "Shuah I don't know." " Where did you lueot him?" "Dashed if I know." " What is he, anyhow ":" " Swear I don't know.'* " Your general knowledge of him appears to be very comprehensive. J)o you know anytliing more about him !" "IMessed 'f I know. " Mr H. Huttie, Annandale, invites trnders for 100 chains ditching. It is notified th.it l.inrfs in th<^ counties of Manakau, Waikato and Puko will be opened for villages special srttloments, on the perpetual leasing system on and -itu t tlu> 2nd September. The xrhedule will be found in our advertising columns.